Unless otherwise noted
Acoustic Cafe
concerts are presented in the
Lower Gathering Space of
Our Lady of Mercy Church at
2 Fremont Road,
Park Ridge, NJ.

Entrance to Gathering Space is from the rear parking lot.

The Acoustic Cafe
is a live music venue
presenting local,
independent and nationally touring performers.
It is a non-profit organization
and 100% volunteer operated. Seating is first come, first served.

Refreshments are available.

The Levins

The contemporary harmony-driven folk duo, The Levins, offers lyrically-rich acoustic music that is warm and uplifting without skating over life's complexities. From harmony in voice to harmony for humanity, husband and wife duo, Julia and Ira, uplift and unite with unflinchingly feel-good folk-pop, infectious musicality, sharp songwriting skills, and a unique approach to vocal harmonies that is both soulful and unexpected. 
The Levins have garnered prime accolades and acclaim for boldly uncompromising and heartfelt music. Select highlights include ranking on Folk and Roots DJ charts, nabbing Top 10 positions and landing on multiple DJ yearly Top 10 song and album lists. Their songs bridge genres and communities, offering them opportunities to perform at The Parliament of World Religions and co-produce an original full-scale musical theater/Euro-Circus production in San Francisco, based on their album, "My Friend Hafiz,: which is inspired by Daniel Ladinsky's poetic renditions.

They are currently touring with their new CD, Caravan Of Dawn, which orbits around a transformative message of healing, exploring the "sorrow inside joy and joy inside sorrow."

"The open hearted songs of The Levins feed my soul. What the world needs now more than ever is the poetry, spirituality, and humanity of their uplifting musicality." - John Platt, WFUV radio
“With Caravan of Dawn, The Levins emulate a timeless sound that’s chock full of seamless harmonies, simple, supple melodies and the kind of unassuming but reassuring melodies that might have sprung from the seminal sounds of the Laurel Canyon scene during its heyday in the late ‘60s. - Lee Zimmerman, Indie Spotlight, Goldmine

Open Book

Rick and Michele Gedney, known as the duo, Open Book, have been writing, recording, and performing together since 2000. Their original music features melody invention and vocal harmonies backed by a tapestry of interweaving guitars. They have released three albums which have received national airplay and critical acclaim. They are currently in the studio working on their fourth album.

In addition to touring and recording, Michele and Rick are honored to work as teachers/music facilitators at Dar Williams’ ‘Writing a Song That Matters’ retreat, which just completed its seventh season at
The Garrison Institute in New York’s Hudson Valley. Open Book has shared the stage and recorded with many notable musicians including Buddy and Julie Miller, Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, Freedy Johnson, John Sebastian, Livingston Taylor, Martin Sexton, Sloan Wainwright, and many others.

“Open Book exemplifies the low-key power of haunting melody buttressed with expansive harmony, the satisfaction of adroit wordplay entwined with skillfully understated musicianship.”
- Robert Burke Warren, Chronogram Magazine

“Open Book's songs build on Rick and Michele's beautiful and entwining harmonies, achieving an incantatory power."
- Jim Motavalli, WPKN Radio

Show Postponed - New Date TBA

Arlon Bennett / Carla Ulbrich
4PM Sunday April 19, 2020

Show Postponed - New Date TBA

The Haiti Connection

Our Lady of Mercy Parish has a “twinning” relationship with St. Vincent’s Parish in Vallieres, Haiti and has established a scholarship program which helps eligible children in Vallieres to achieve the equivalent of a high school education.

Proceeds from our concerts benefit this schoalrship fund as well as humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti in general.